Sachin Tendulkar's Second Wind

India maul Lanka, take lead in ODI series

On Sachin Tendulkar, Battle Hymn of the Republic of India

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift willow
His fame is marching on.


Sachin Tendulkar gave glimpses of his vintage form with a scorching 93 to make a memorable comeback as India relied on a clinical all-round display to fashion a comprehensive 152-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first cricket one-dayer here today.

After rattling up a mammoth 350 for 6 with a collective onslaught by most of the top order batsmen, spinners Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik hogged the limelight with three wickets each to bundle out the visitors for 198 in 35.4 overs, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Tendulkar, returning to the international arena after a six-month injury lay-off, set the tone with his 96-ball knock, while Irfan Pathan (83) and captain Rahul Dravid (85 not out) were the other notable performers on what appeared to be a good batting track at the VCA Stadium.

M S Dhoni then provided the late sparks to the innings, the highest-ever total recorded in this ground, with a quickfire 28-ball 38 to leave the islanders in a complete daze as even Muttiah Muralitharan failed to make much of in impact.

The Sri Lankans lost captain Marvan Atapattu (1) early but kept themselves in the chase with a rollicking 64-run second wicket partnership between Sanath Jayasuriya (27) and Kumara Sangakkara (43).

But Jayasuriya's dismissal in the 11th over completely changed the complexion of the game as the Lankan middle order collapsed like a pack of cards, falling prey to the guiles of Harbhajan (3/35) and Kartik (3/48).

The two teams will now travel to Mohali for the second one-dayer to be held under floodlights on October 28.

The tally was India's second-highest ever against their southern rivals, the highest being 373 for 6 made against the Lankans in the 1999 World Cup tie at Taunton in England.

The visitors' run-chase, after they were set an asking rate of 7.02 by the Indians whose total surpassed the previous best of 348 for 8 made by New Zealand in 1995-96 at this venue, went haywire once Jayasuriya, who struck six fours, and Sangakkara departed in the space of two overs.

Jayasuriya spooned a drive straight to Dravid at short extra cover in the llth over, Harbhajan's first, and then in the very next over Sangakkara was deceived by Virender Sehwag's extra bounce and turn and gave a tame return catch as Lanka slid to 76 for 3 from 74 for one in very little time.

Then Harbhajan struck two blows in four balls to send back the promoted Upul Chandana (3) and Russel Arnold (0) and the tourists were on their knees.

Mahela Jayawardene, the vice captain, departed after being castled in trying an injudicious reverse sweep against super sub Murali Kartik, and the Lankans were looking down the barrel.

Kartik and Harbhajan ensured that the lower order did not prosper much though Chaminda Vaas (37 not out) and Super Sub Dilhara Lokuhettige (29) tried their level best to keep their side in the fight till the end with a 63-run ninth wicket stand.

SCOREBOARD
India:
V Sehwag c Sangakkara b Vaas 20
S Tendulkar c Sangakkara b Maharoof 93
I Pathan c Jayawardene b Dilshan 83
Yuvraj Singh lbw Dilshan 14
R Dravid not out 85
M Dhoni c Jayawardene b Fernando 38
A Agarkar run out 1
J Yadav not out 3
Extras (lb-5, nb-4, w-4): 13
Total (for 6 wkts, in 50 overs): 350
Fall of Wkts: 1-41, 2-205, 3-207, 4-247, 5-316, 6-319
Bowling: Vaas 9-0-67-1, Maharoof 10-0-82-1, Fernando 10-0-66-1, Muralitharan 10-0-49-0, Dilshan 6-0-40-2, Chandana 5-0-41-0.

Sri Lanka:
S Jayasuriya c Dravid b Harbhajan 27
M Atapattu b Pathan 1
K Sangakkara c and b Sehwag 43
U Chandana st Dhoni b Harbhajan 3
M Jayawardene b Kartik 17
R Arnold b Harbhajan 0
T Dilshan b Kartik 23
F Maharoof st Dhoni b Kartik 2
C Vaas not out 37
D Lokuhettige b Sree Santh 29
M Muralitharan c Karrik b Sree Santh 6
Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 6): 10
Total (all out in 34.2 overs): 198
Fall of Wkts: 1-10, 2-74, 3-76, 4-88, 5-88, 6-118, 7-121, 8-126, 9-189
Bowling: Pathan 5-0-34-1; Santh 5.4-0-39-2; Agarkar 3-0-20-0; Harbhajan 10-0-35-3; Sehwag 3-1-20-1; Kartik 9-0-48-3.